Stock Market & Financial Investment News

BofA probed over potentially improper futures trading, Reuters saysBank of America (BAC) is the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation into potentially improper conduct by its futures traders, according to Reuters. An intelligence bulletin to regulators and financial services firm security officers said that the FBI suspected swaps traders at an unnamed bank may have been involved in market manipulation and front running of orders from Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC) and Reuters reported that it has since learned that Bank of America was the subject of the investigation. Reference Link

Basel Committee says new regulations unlikely, FT reportsIn an interview with the Financial Times, Basel Committee secretary-general William Coen stated most of the post-financial crisis bank regulation is in place, and the committee will now spend 2015 providing clarity on existing regulation. Coen stated that he is strongly inclined to review bank trading book rules by year's end, though the committee's review of market risk regulations may or may not be completed this year. Publicly traded companies in the space include Bank of America (BAC), Citi (C), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan (JPM), Morgan Stanley (MS), U.S. Bancorp (USB) and Wells Fargo (WFC). Reference Link

Ocwen to sell additional $25B portfolio to Nationstar Ocwen Financial (OCN) announced that its subsidiary, Ocwen Loan Servicing and Nationstar Mortgage, an indirectly-held, wholly-owned subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings (NSM) have agreed in principle to the sale by Ocwen of residential mortgage servicing rights on a portfolio consisting of approximately 142,000 loans owned by Freddie Mac (FMCC) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) with a total principal balance of approximately $25B. Subject to a definitive agreement, approvals by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHFA and other customary conditions, Ocwen and Nationstar expect the transaction to close before mid-year.

Bank of America faces pressure to defend structure, Financial Times reportsBank of America will have to defend its current structure at its annual meeting in May after the SEC allowed a small shareholder the right to challenge the board on a break-up, reports the Financial Times. Bank of America's board could be under pressure to appoint a committee to examine a plan for divesting all non-core banking businesses if a proposal from Barlett Naylor of Public Citizen is adopted. Reference Link

SEC says BofA must put investment bank spinoff to shareholder vote, Reuters saysThe SEC has told Bank of America that it must allow shareholders to vote on whether the company will attempt to spin off its investment bank unit, reports Reuters, citing a decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A bank spokesperson said the company "will respond to the proposal in our proxy statement." Reference Link

Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae begin legal battle against Nomura, RBS, NY Post saysFreddie Mac (FMCC) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) alleged in court proceedings Monday that they bought "bad" mortgages because they were mislead by banks, reports the New York Post, citing court arguments. Monday was the first day of the lawsuit against Nomura (NMR) and co-defendant Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) which seeks $1B in damages as well as the ability to return the securities to the banks. Lawyers presented internal bank emails that identified some mortgages as "crap" or from "extremely dysfunctional" lenders, while the banks alleged that they fully disclosed the poor quality of the products. Reference Link